Health Effects of Embedded Depleted Uranium

TLDR

Further studies of the long‑term health impact of embedded depleted‑uranium fragments are needed. The study investigates whether current surgical fragment‑removal policies are appropriate for this metal. The authors examined rodents implanted with DU pellets and cultured human cells exposed to DU compounds. Uranium from implanted DU fragments disseminates to bone, kidney, muscle, and liver, yet chronic exposure does not cause kidney toxicity, but DU is mutagenic, converting osteoblasts to tumorigenic cells, alters hippocampal neurophysiology, crosses the placenta into fetal tissue, and reduces rodent litter size after long‑term implantation.

Abstract

The health effects of embedded fragments of depleted uranium (DU) are being investigated to determine whether current surgical fragment-removal policies are appropriate for this metal. The authors studied rodents implanted with DU pellets as well as cultured human cells exposed to DU compounds. Results indicate that uranium from implanted DU fragments distributes to tissues distant from implantation sites, including bone, kidney, muscle, and liver. Despite levels of uranium in kidney that would be nephrotoxic after acute exposure, no histological or functional kidney toxicity was observed with embedded DU, indicating that the kidney adapts when exposed chronically. Nonetheless, further studies of the long-term health impact are needed. DU is mutagenic and transforms human osteoblastic cells into a tumorigenic phenotype. It alters neurophysiological parameters in rat hippocampus, crosses the placental barrier, and enters fetal tissue. Preliminary data also indicate decreased rodent litter size when animals are bred 6 months or longer after DU implantation.